Shoe stiffener



Oct. v29, i929. H. E. LUBY l SHOE STIFFENER Filed 00t- 15, 1926 Heng l: Zaby Patented Oct. 29, 1929 HENRY E,v LUBY, F JOHNSON CITY, NEW YORK SHGE STIFFENER Application filed October 15, 1926. Serial No. 141,833.

This invention relates to boot and shoe stiffeners and the process by Which the stiffeners are applied to the shoe and has special reference to shoe counters and to caps or tips for shoes. i

The general practice heretofore has been to apply an adhesive, usually soluble in moisture, to the counter When it is about to be applied to the shoe. This process has the disadvantage that the article so coated is difficult to handle and also is liable to stick to the shoe lining before the Workman has an opportunity to Work the samey and properly position the counter With respect to the lining and the upper of the shoe. Shoes thus constructed are also objectionable in that the adhesive being soluble in Water will become softened if Wet by rain, perspiration or the like and thereby cause the shoe to lose its shape.

It is accordingly an object of the `present invention to provide a self-contained stiffener which is impregnated or coated with an adhesive which is Waterproof and which may be readily softened by heat, and may therefore be easily manipulated by the operator.

A further object of the invention resides in a process by Which the stiffener may be accurately positioned Within the shoe and then caused to adhere to the contacting parts thereof by means of heat Which is applied while completing the shoe.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention Will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with ythe accompanying drawings; in which Figure l is a perspective View of one of the improved shoe counters with a portion of the adhesive removed, the shoe being shown in dotted outline.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through one side of the heel portion of a shoe; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of a stiffener'.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail the numeral l indicates a conventional type of shoe, but provided with the improved stif'fener, in the present illustrationv a counter 2. l

The stiffener, if it is a counter is formed of some stiff material such as leather board or the like which is pre-shaped to fit the shoe, and has applied thereto a water-proof adhesive Which may be softened by heat. Such an adhesive may be formed of shellac, rosin and Montan Wax or any other suitable Wax or gum, but it Will be understood that any dry and waterproof adhesive having the property of softening under heat Will serve the purpose.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 the adhesive material 3 is incorporated in the material forming the-counter at the time the counter is made; Whereas in Figures 2 and 3 the adhesive is applied in the' form of a coating.

The adhesive being dry and hard presents no diiculty whatever to the operator when being placed between the lining 4 and leather upper 5, and furthermore, due to the fact that the adhesive is in a dry condition there Will be no danger of the lining 4 or leather 5 sticking to the counter before the operator is ready to proceed with the operation of properly assembling the parts. At the proper time the operator Will apply heat to the shoe in a manner which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. This application of heat will, of course, soften the adhesive 3 and Will thus cause the three layers-namely, the counter, the lining and 30 the upper, to firmly adhere together.

v A'From the foregoing description taken in connection with the'accompanying drawing it Will be observed that I have devised -an eX- ceedingly simple and inexpensive selfcong5 tained stilfener for shoes and the like, which may be readily shipped, and stored, which may be -easily and quickly assembled with the partly formed shoe by the operator, Which avoids the difficulty of sticking to the lining, ete., prematurely, and 'Which may be readily caused to adhere to the other parts of the lhoe at the proper time by the application of eat.

In the foregoing description as Well as in v the appended claims the term shoe is used in a generic sense and is intended to include slippers, boots, shoes, and other foot-Wear, and the term leather board is intended to include cardboard, berboard, or other equivalent material having substantially the same characteristics as leather board.

In accordance With the patent statutes I have described what I now believe to be thel best embodiment of the invention, but I do not Wish to be understood thereby as limiting myself or the scope of the invention, as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; all such I aim to include Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A preformed shoe stii'ener composed of leather board and having a surface thereof provided with a dried adhesive,`said adhesive being softenable by heat.

2. A preformedv shoe stiffener composed of leather board and having a surface thereof provided with a dried Waterproof adhesive, said adhesive being softenable b heat.

- l HENRYV .LUBY. 

